Man Jailed After High-Speed Chase

An 18-year-old man was in Ventura County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of assaulting a peace officer after a high-speed chase that ended when the vehicle he was suspected of stealing flipped over on a freeway offramp in Oxnard, authorities said.

Raymond Daniel Macias and three others in the vehicle, whom authorities say all live in Santa Barbara, were treated at local hospitals for minor to serious injuries after the accident at 11:46 p.m. Wednesday, Sheriff’s Sgt. Larry Meyers said.

Meyers said the chase began when deputies responding to a report of several males drinking and disturbing at a convenience store in the 11400 block of California 33 north of Oak View saw a black Ford sport-utility vehicle leaving the area.

When deputies tried to stop the vehicle, Macias sped off, heading south on the highway, Meyers said. The pursuit continued on the southbound Ventura Freeway to Oxnard.

The occupants of the vehicle, including two boys ages 15 and 16 and 19-year-old Daniel David Ramirez, allegedly pelted officers with full beer cans, and at one point Macias rammed the Ford into another car, authorities said.

Macias tried to exit the freeway at Wagon Wheel Road in Oxnard, but the Ford went out of control and rolled over, Meyers said. One of the occupants, whom authorities did not identify, was ejected from the car.

Macias was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail, authorities said. In addition to being accused of assaulting a peace officer, he is suspected of driving under the influence and evading a peace officer, authorities said.